Side wall sampler



. Dec. 21, I954 Filfld Aug, 16, 1950 P. E. CHANEY EI'AL SIDE WALL-SAMPLE]? 6 Shee ts-Sheet -1 lullnllml l mmm\ 7 INVENTORS BY WILLIAM E.BARNE$ day;

or I ATTORNEYS PRESTON E.CHANEY Dec. 21, 1954 P. E. CHANEY EI'AL 2,697,585

SIDE WALL SAMPLER I Filed Aug. 16, 1950 e Sheets-Shoot 3 Fig.8

E,/ IIO INVENTORS. PRESTON E. CHANEY WILLIAM E. BARNES ATTORNEYS Dec. 21, 1954 P. E. CH'ANEY EI'AL 2,

SIDE WALL SAMPLER Filed Aug. 16, 1950 e- Shets-Sheet. 5

0 INVENTORS.

PRESTON E. CHANEY WILLIAM E.BARNES ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice Patented Dec. 21, 1954 SIDE WALL SAMPLER Preston E. (Zhaney and Wiliiam E. Barnes, Beaumont, Tex., assignors to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 16, 1950, Serial No. 179,664

Claims. (Cl. 255-1.4)

This invention relates to samplers for the side walls of bore holes and has particular reference to a sampler which may be operated to take a series of samples successively in a plurality of sampling tubes during a smgle run in a hole.

Side wall samplers have been provided in the past which are capable of taking one or more samples from the side wall of a bore hole but are of such type that, if a plurality of samples are taken, they are taken simultaneously at about the same depth in the hole.

It is a broad object of the present invention to provide a sampler which may be operated so as to take samples at any desired depths in a hole. In accordance with the invention a plurality of sampling tubes are provided associated with controlling means so that, at one particular depth, control may be effected to take a sample by means of one of the tubes while the others remain inactive and housed within the boundaries of the apparatus. The taking of such a sample then cond1- tions another sampling tube so that it may be controlled at some other depth to take a sample and this turn conditions a third sampling tube and so on, with the result that a number of samples may be taken independently at any depth desired during a single run of the apparatus. In the preferred form of the 1nvent1on interlocking latches are provided which are tripped successively and the operations of the individual sampllng tubes may be controlled hydraulically from the surface.

The broad object of the invention and various subsidiary objects relating particularly to details of construction and operation will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction w1th the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a sampler provided 111 accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a controlling bar provided in the apparatus;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are views showing portions of the apparatus successively from the lower to the upper end thereof, Figures 3 and 4 being elevations and Flgure 5 being a longitudinal section;

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are similar views in the form of sections taken inside the left hand cover strip of Flgures 3 to 5;

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are sections s1m1lar to Figures 6, 7 and 8 but taken inside the right hand cover strip of Figures 3 to 5;

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are, respectively, transverse sections taken on the planes indicated at 1212, 1313, and 14-14 of Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showmg in full lines the position of the lowermost sampler taken after the taking of a sample;

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 9 but showmg in full lines the position of the lowermost sampler taken after the taking of a sample; I

Figure 17 is a longitudinal section illustrating elements involved in interconnecting a pair of samplers end to end;

Figure 18 is a perspective view illustrating the elements of Figure 17; and

Figure 19 is a perspective view of a restraining member provided in accordance with the invention.

The apparatus comprises a head member 2 provided with threads 4 for securing it to the lower end of a tubular drill stem. A pair of strip members 6 and 8 are clamped by bolts 12 to an extension 10 of the head member 2 and at their lower ends are clamped by bolts 18 to an extension 16 of a nose member 14. The extensions 10 and 16 have fiat faces against which the members 6 and 8 are clamped and these members are additionally held spaced at various points along their lengths by spacer tubes 20 against which they are clamped by bolts 22.

Bolts 24, 26 and 30 extend across the space between the members 6 and 8 and furnish pivotal supports for sampling tubes 32, 34 and 38 which are normally housed between the members 6 and 8. These sampling tubes are provided with sample-receiving openings indicated at 40 which are provided with inwardly tapering ends for the secure retention of the samples of formations which are taken from the walls of a bore hole.

Springs indicated at 42 and anchored to transverse pins 44 serve to urge the sampling tubes outwardly so that when the tubes are released their open ends will extend outside the boundaries of the sampler body constituted by the members 6 and 8.

The head member 2 is provided with a bore 46 in which there is located a piston 48, the piston being provided at its upper end with packing indicated at 50. This piston contains a bore which is extended through the bore of a tube 52 secured to the piston the bore being provided with lateral holes 54 of restricted size. A strong spring 56 normally urges the piston upwardly.

The tubular extension 52 of the piston is connected by a pin 58 to a controlling latching bar 60 which is guided for lengthwise movement in a groove 62 in the member 8 being held therein by a series of plates 64. The bar 60 is provided with inwardly extending portions 66 provided with transverse grooves 68.

Each of the sampling tubes carries a roller 70 normally resting on a corresponding extension 66 out of alignment with the groove 68 therein.

Each of the sampling tubes is additionally provided with a pin 72 on the side opposite its roller 70 extending toward the member 6 and is also provided with a triangular element 74 extending in the same direction as its pin '72. Located above the lowermost sampling tube in a longitudinal groove in the member 6 is a slide 76 held in this groove by a plate 78. The slide 76 is shown in Figure 19. The slide 76 is provided with an inwardly directed lower end portion 80 provided with a lateral extension which furnishes a socket 82. At its upper end the slide 76 is provided with an inwardly directed end portion 84 which, it will be noted, is laterally opposite the pin 72 of the second sampling tube 34. Above the slide 76 is a second slide 98 of similar construction provided with a lower inward extension 100 providing a socket 102. A spring 92 is arranged between the slides 76 and 98. The spring 92 urges the slide 76 downwardly causing the lower surface 81 of the lower end portion 80 of the slide to bear against a plate 86 as shown in Figure 6. This engagement of the lower surface of the portion 80 and the upper edge of the plate 86 positions the upper portion 84 of the slide adjacent to the pin 72 of the second sampling tube. The construction just described is repeated in connection with the other sampler tube in the way of slide 110. In the case of uppermost slide there is provided the spring 116 backed by a fixed abutment serving to urge its inward extension 112 provided with a socket 114 into engagement with the spring retaining plate 115. Other spring retaining plates are indicated at 86 and 87. These plates serve to limit the downward movements of the associated slides.

In operation let it be assumed that with the various tubes housed within the apparatus it is lowered into a bore hole by means of a hollow drill string to a position to bring the lowermost sampler tube adjacent to the formation to be sampled. This lowermost tube is held in inward position against the action of its spring 42 by engagement of its roller 70 with the inward extension 66 of the slide bar 60. It will be noted that the pin 72 of this lowermost sampler tube is not impeded by any upper end of a slide.

When it is desired to take a sample the pumps supplying mud to the drill stern are speeded up with the result 3 that due to the impeding of the flow through the openings 54 the piston 48 will be subjected to suificient pressure to move the piston 48 downwardly carrying with it the slide bar 60. The result of this is to bring the groove 68 of the lowermost inward extension 66 of this bar opposite the roller 70 of the lowermost sampler tube so that the spring 42 may swing this sampler tube outwardly, the roller 7d passing into the groove. The lower open end of the sampler tube will thus be forced into engagement with the side wall of the hole. If now the pressure of the mud is relieved, the roller '76 will prevent return of the piston 48 by restraining movement of the slide bar 60. If the drill string is now lowered the lower end of the lowermost tube will cut into the formation at the side of the bore hole and the tube will move outwardly taking a sample and finally will face upwardly. As soon as downward movement of the apparatus occurs to such extent that the open end of the tube is released from the formation, the spring 56, by its action on the slide bar 60, will continue the rotating movement of the sampler tube through the cam action of the lower side of the slot 68 on roller 70 until this roller is forced out of the slot. As it approaches its final position its triangular member 74 will engage the lower surface of the lateral extension 86 of the slide 76 and as the final position of the lowermost sampler tube is reached the rounded nose 75 of member 74 will enter the socket 82, a slight cam action then occurring which will cause the roller 70 to clear slightly the inward extension 66. The location of the triangular member 74 of the sampler tube in the socket 32 will thereafter prevent outward movement of the sampler tube so that its open end will remain within the boundary of the apparatus.

In this final position of the lowermost sampler tube the slide '7 6 will be held sutficiently upwardly from its lowermost position to cause its lateral extension 84 to clear the pin 72 of the second sampler tube 34. This sampler tube will, however, be prevented from outward movement since the second lateral extension 66 of the slide bar will now be engaged by the roller 70 of this tube.

it will be seen from the'above that only the lowermost sampler tube 32 has so far been permitted to move outwardly to take a sample, all of the remaining sampler tubes being latched in their inner positions.

The second sampler tube may now be rendered operative by a repetition of the same sequence. By applying pressure to the piston 48 the slide bar 66 is again driven downwardly to bring the slot as in position to be entered by the roller 73 of the sampler tube 34-, the pin '72 of which has been released. This action may, of course, occur at any desired level which may be other than that at which the first sampler tube was operated. By lowering the apparatus the second sampler tube may be caused to dig into the formation at the side of the hole to take a sample and will be rotated upwardly with the ultimate J result that it will be latched by engagement of its triangular extension 74 in the socket 102 of the next slide 98 which will be in turn raised so as to release the pin 72 of the third sampler of the series which in turn may then be operated by the application of mud pressure and downward movement of the apparatus as described.

It will be clear that the same sequence may be repeated a number of times equal to any number of sampling tubes present until finally the uppermost tube such as 38 after its operation will be latched by engagement of its triangular extension 74 in the socket 114 of the slide 110. As will be evident any number of sampler tubes may thus be operated sequentially at any individually desirable depths.

As illustrated in Figures 17 and 18, the apparatus heretofore described may be continued downwardly in the form of a similar apparatus by replacing the nose 14 with the member 118 provided with extension 120 which may be clamped between the members 6 and 8 and the lower extension 122 which may be clamped between the members corresponding to 6 and 8 of a similar lower assembly. Coupling between an upper slide bar 60 and the slide bar of the lower apparatus is effected through a rod 125 provided with heads 126 and 128 threaded thereto and having extensions 13d and 132, provided with openings 134 and 136 through which may be passed coupling pins corresponding to 58, it being noted that the lower end of the bar 60 is provided with an extension for an opening 137 for the passage of such a pin. A slide 138 is provided to furnish an extended connection between the successive slides of the type indicated at 76 so that a sampling tube below the member 118 may effect the release of the pin 72 of the slide first above the member 118. In this fashion it will be evident that a very large number of samplers may be provided with the possibility of taking a correspondingly large number of samples at various depths in a hole.

It will be clear that variations in the interlocking arrangements may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A bore hole side wall sampler comprising a plurality of side wall sampling elements, support means arranged to be carried by a drill stem, means pivotally mounting said sampling elements on said support means, means for moving each of said sampling elements about its pivotal mounting into engagement with the side wall the bore hole, said sampling elements each being rotatable about its pivotal mounting to effect a sample taking operation by motion of the support means relative to the wall of the bore hole when the element has been moved into engagement with the wall of the bore hole by its moving means, said motion resulting from movement of the drill stem in the bore hole, means for restraining each of said sampling elements from being moved about its pivotal mounting by its moving means, each of said restraining means except the restraining means for a first of said sampling elements being released by engagement thereof by an adjacent sampling element as the adjacent element is rotated about its pivotal mounting in a sample taking operation, and means for actuating the first one of said restraining means to effect the release of its associated sampling element whereby each of said sampling elements may then be successively released for rotation about its pivotal mounting by its moving means.

2. A bore hole side wall sampler as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for actuating the first one of said restraining means is controlled by mud pressure exerted through the supporting drill stem.

3. A bore hole side wall sampler as claimed in claim 1 including means for latching each of said elements in an inactive position following its sample taking operation.

4-. A bore hole side wall sampler comprising a plurality of side wall sampling elements, support means arranged to be carried by a drill stem, means pivotally mounting said sampling elements on said support means, means for moving each of said elements about its pivotal mounting into engagement with the side wall of the bore hole, said elements each being rotatable about its pivotal mounting to effect a sample taking operation by motion of the support means relative to the wall of the bore hole when the element is being moved into engagement with the wall of the bore hole by its moving means, said motion resulting from movement of the drill stem in the bore hole, means for restraining each of said sampling elements with the exception of a first one of said sampling elements from motion about its pivotal mounting by its moving means, each of said restraining means including a portion positioned to be engaged by an adjacent sampling element upon the completion of a sample taking operation by said adjacent element, each of said restraining means being released upon engagement of its said portion by its adjacent sampling element, and means for actuating the moving means for said first sampling element to move said first sampling element about its pivotal mounting into engagement with the wall of the bore hole, and upon the completion of a first sample taking operation the means restraining the next successive sampling element is released.

5. A bore hole side wall sampler comprising a plurality of side wall sampling elements, support means arranged to be carried by a drill stem, means pivotally mounting said sampling elements on said support means, actuating means including means for moving each of said elements about its pivotal mounting into engagement with the side wall of the bore hole, said elements each being rotatable about its pivotal mounting to eliect a sample taking operation by motion of the support means relative to the wall of the bore hole when the element has been moved into engagement with the wall of the bore hole by its moving means, said motion resulting from movement of the drill stem in the bore hole, means urging each of said sampling elements to rotate about its pivotal mounting toward its moving means, means restraining each of said sampling elements with the exception of a first one of said sampling elements from rotation about its pivotal mounting in response to the urging of its urging means, each of said restraining means including a portion positioned to be engageable by an adjacent sampling element upon the completion of a sample taking operation by said adjacent element, each of said restraining means being released upon engagement of its said portion by its adjacent sampling element, said actuating means including means cooperating with said first one of said sampling elements for restraining said first one of said sampling elements from being rotated about its pivotal mounting by its urging means when said actuating means is in an at rest position, means for actuating said actuating means to release said first sampling element for rotation about its pivotal mounting References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,055,648 Brack Sept. 29, 1936 2,326,405 Spencer Aug. 10, 1943 2,391,869 Bandy Jan. 1, 1946 2,392,683 McWhorter Jan. 8, 1946 2,546,632 Dill Mar. 27, 1951 

